Hog-gambrel.



No. 892,719. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908. J. A. GRATTON. HOG GAMBREL.

APPL IOATION FILED MAY 23. 1907.

uuanfor,

Jase M4 Gm/fan UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. GRATTON, OF KEMPTON, NORTH DAKOTA.

HOG-GAMBREL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Application filed Kay 23, 1907. Serial No. 375,279.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. GRATToN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kempton, in the county of Grand Forks and State of NorthDakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ho -Gambrels,

of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to gambrelsfor supporting the carcass of hogs andother animals and for spreading the same while being butchered ordressed; and it has for its object to provide a gambrel of simple andimproved construction. which when applied to,

the hind legs of the carcass will be automatically expanded by theweight su ported thereon so as to spread the carcass or convenience indressing the same.

recise structural details therein exhibited,

ut that changes, alterations andmodifications within the scope of theinvention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front view showing the Icarcass of abutchered animal suspended by the improved gambrel. Fig. 2 is a frontview showing the gambrel collapsed or folded. Fig. 3 is a side view ofthe same. Fig. 4 is a front view showing the gambrel ex anded.

orrespondin parts in the several figures are denoted by like charactersof reference.

Theimproved gambrel includes a central bar or body 1 upon which isfitted a verticallIy slidable sleeve 2 provided at each side wit a'pairof laterally extending ln s or ears 3-3. Pivotally connected with t elower end of the bar or body 1, at each side of said bar or body, arepairs of links 4-4. Supported pivotally by the pairs of cars .or lugs-33 are the spreading rods 55 having terminal hooks 6 adapted forengagement with the tendons ofthe hind legs of the carcass that is to besuspended; the rods 55 are connected, intermediate their ends, with thepairs of links 44 by means of pins or pivotal members 7 for thereceptionof which the links 4 are provided each with a plurality of perforations8, thus enabling the rods 5 to be so adjusted as to be capable ofvarying degrees of extension. The movement of the sleeve 2 in a downwarddirection upon the bar or body 1 is limited by a stop 9 extendingtransversely'through said bar or body with which it'is permanentlyconnected; the said bar or body is provided with a ertures 10 for thereception of a stop mem or such as acotter pin 11 which may be adjustedin any one of said apertures for the purpose of securing the sleeve2-against movement in an upward direction.

The 0 'eration of the improved device will be readi y'understood fromthe fore oing deings. The hooks 6 at the outer or free ends of thespreading rods'may be readily placed in engagement with the hind legs ofthe carcass whlch ma be hoisted by hoisting means scription taken inconnection with the drawconnected wit the a erture 12 near the upperextremity of the ar or body 1. When thewei'ght of the carcass is imposedupon the spreading rods the sleeve 2 will move in a c ownward directionupon the bar or body 1,

and the spreading rods will be expanded, by

the action of the pairs of links 4-4 in an outwa'rd direction, t usspreading the carcass as will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, and supporting it in a conven-- ient position fordressing.

This improved device is simple 1n "construction and may be manufacturedat a moderate Its utility will be readily apparent expense. to thosefamiliar with this class of devices. The body bar is formed in a singlepiece, and it is therefore strong and rigid; the sleeve slidable u onthe body bar affords a very strong and durable su port for the spreadingrods and each of the latter, in turn, is very firmly su ported by a pairof links connecting it with t e lower end of the body bar. The stopmember 9 limits the downward movement of the sleeve 2, and prevents thelatter from striking and injuring the links at the points where they areconnected pivotally with the body bar; and the cotter pin 11 preventsaccidental movement of the sleeve in an upward direction when the deviceis in use, thus preventing accidental disenga ement of the carcass fromthe s reading hoo (s.

Havin thus fully describe the invention, what is c aimed as new is:

In a device of the character described, a body bar, a sleeve mounted toslide on said bar and. having laterally extending lugs, spreading rodspivotally connected to said lugs, said rods having upturned terminalhooks on their outer ends, pairs of links connected adj ustably to thespreading rods and pivotally connected to the lower end of the bodymember, pivotal pins connecting the links adjustably with the spreadingrods, a stop extending transversely through the body member to limit thedownward movement of the sleeve, and an adjustable pin for securing thesleeve against upward movement from the body bar.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. GRATTON. Witnesses:

EDW. H. MAETZ'OLD, M, E. MAETZOLD.

